Means for securing register of impressions in web-fed printing machines



Sept. 15, 1931. E. B. OSBORNE IEANS FOR SECURING REGISTER OF IMPRESSIONS IN WEB FED PRINTING MACHINES Filed June 12.- 1929 2 sums-55m 1 NVENTOR monugrs.

Sept. 15, 1931. E. B. OSBORNE MEANS FOR SECURING REGISTER OP IIPRESSIONS IN WEB FED PRINTING MACHINES Filed June 12. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

"(MENTOR I ,4 T TOR/IE Y5.

Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orries EDMUND B. OSBORNE, OF HONTCLAIB, NEW

MEANS FOR SECURING REGISTER OF IMPRESSIONS IN WEB-FED PBIN'I'ING'IAGEINES Application filed June 12,-

This invention relates in general to webfed gravure printing presses in which a plurality of superimposed printings or imp, essions are made upon a continuous we of paper or other suitable material in one or a plurality of colors. The web is fed to the press over a plurality of guide rollers and into successive printing contacts with engraved printing cylinders each of which makes an impression upon other impresnovel and improved automatic means con trolled by movement of the web for securing and maintaining 'lateral register of superimposed rintings or impressions.

A furtlier object is to provide a novel and improved means for securing such lateral register of superimposed impressions wherein the transmission of light rays to a light sensitive or hoto-electric cell is varied in accordance with lateral movement of the web and causing lateral movement of the' web in the opposite direction is efiected in accordance with the variations in the transmission of light.

Other objects are to provide means for I causing lateral movement of the web con trolled b a light responsive device which is subjecte to light rays the transmission of which from a source are interceptedor varied by the web upon lateral movement thereof, whereby when the web laterally moves 'in one direction from a normal or redeter ruined course, said means is automatically actuatcd to cause lateral movement of the web in the opposite direction .to said predeter-- mined course; t provide apparatus of the character desc bed embodying novel and improved features of construction and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the ollowing description.

Referring to said drawings, in which corwardly 1929. Serial No. 870,289.

responding and like parts are designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the end of the press to which the web is initially fed, v portions of the side of the frame being broken away. 7

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine. Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus for securin and maintaining lateral register of the w b.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the web show;

ing the light absorbing or non-reflecting band. 1

Figure 5 is a schematic. illustration of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing another mannerof varying the light reflection by lateral movement of the web.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the press includes a frame comprising in general-two side pieces 1 of any suitable construction" upon which are journaled a plurality of' engraved or 4 printing cylinders 2 upon the surfaces of which are en raved the designs or other inscriptions' to e printed upon a paper or textile web 3 which is supplied to the machine from a roll 4. This web entersthe machine over a uide roller 5 and then passes downneath an impression roller 6 which cooperates with the-first engraved cylinder 2 to cause printing contact of the web with the cylinder. The web then passes upwardly and over another guide roller 7, and then downwardly around a'third guide roller 8 which is preferabl adjustable for securin and maintain'inglbngitudinal registers o the web. From the roller 8 the web passes upwardly around a roller 9 which is adjustable for securin and maintaining lateral register of the we From the lateral registering roller 8 the web passes downwardly beneath a second impression roller 6 into contact with the next en ved or printing cylinder 2 from which ti e 'web asses upwardly and over another guide ro er 7 and downwardly around another guide roller-8. The web then passes upwardly around another lateral registering roller 9 .anifienoe 109 to the next impression roller 6 and engraved cylinder. I have shown only three printing cylinders, but as many of these cylinders are provided as are necessary to produce the desired number of superimposed impressions or printings, as is known to those skilled in the art. One of the lateral registering rollers 9 is arranged between the adjacent cylinders 2 to secure a predetermined and normal 10. course of travel of the web 3 so that accurate lateral register of the successive superimposed printings is obtained. Any suitable means may be provided for'drawing the web through the machine, but for the pur- 1 pose of illustration I have shown the shaft of each printing cylinder 2 provided with a beveled pinion 11 which meshes with another pinion 12 ona horizontal driving shaft 13 which is journaled in bearings 14 on the 20 frame. This shaft is driven by a chain and sprocket connection 15 from an electric motor 16. I

An ink fountain-17 is arranged beneath each of the printing cylinders 2 so that the peripheral surface of said cylinder passes through the ink whereby the ink is applied to the cylinder for printing. Surplus ink is scraped from the cylinder by a doctor blade 3 In accordance with the invention the rollers 9 have one end vertically adjustableso as to cause lateral movement of the web longitu: dinally of the rollers in both directions accordingly as the said end of the roller is raised 35 or lowered; and the roller is adjusted automatically by means controlled by lateral movement of the web out of a predetermined or normal course. For the urpose of illustration. each lateral registering roller 9 has e0 one end journaled in a self-alining ball hearing 170 in one side piece of the frame, and the other end is journaled in a similar self-alining bearing 18 which is in turn eccentrically mounted in a cylindrical bearing block 19 45 rotatable in the other side piece of the frame.

The outer end of each bearing block 19 carries a worm wheel 20 with which meshes a worm 21 secured on a shaft 22. This shaft 22 is connected by magnetic clutches 23 and 230 50 to two electric motors 24 and 25. .Any suitable magnetic clutch may be utilized which will selectively permit the shaft 22 to be driven by either of the motors 24 or 25 which are constantly driven from a suitable source 65 of power. Obviously one of the motors will site direction. As an illustration of the magnetic clutch, I have shown schematically in 60 Figure 3 of the drawings upon the shaft 27 of each of the motors. This rotatinglbody has mounted thereon field coils 28 whic are connected to a source of electric current to be hereinafter described. Within 65 each of the bodies 26 and secured on the shaft ers. invention one side of theweb 3 adjacent one a body 26 secured 22 is rotatably mounted an armature 29 having a commutator 30 with which cooperates brushes 31 .and 32 connected respectively to the field coils 33 and the commutator 34 of a clutch motor 35' which includes the armature 36 mounted on the shaft 22. The field coils of the two rotating members 26 are connected through collecting rings 38 in parallel with a source of electricity 39, and are respectively controlled by switches 40 and 41 operated by the respective relays 42. and 43.

the armature 29 is thereby produced soas to rotate the shaft-22 in one direction, the rotating clutch member of the other clutch being unenergized and thereby permitting free rotation of the shaft 22. This rotation of the shaft 22 will cause rotation in one directionof the bearing block 19, which accordingly moves the bearing 18 of the end of the lateral registering roller 9. This in turn will vary the tension on the web 3 at the adjustable end of the roller so that the web is caused to. laterally move on said roller in one direction. The paper will move in the direction of the end of the roller 9 at which the .greater tension on the paper is pr duced.

The magnetic clutches 23 and 230 211: automatically contr olled in accordance w th lateral movement of the web 3 on the guice roll- In accordance with one form of the edge thereof has 'acontinuous light absorbing'or non-reflecting surface which is preferably in-the form of a line or band 44 of a different color than the web, said line beingprinted on the web by' the first cylinder 2 substantially parallel with the edge of the web. 'Two sources of light 45 and 46 are so arranged with respect to, the-web that rays from the light sources are directed through lenses'47 and '48 upon line 44.

As shown in Figure 4 of the drawings,

the rays'from the twosources of light, when the web is moving in a normal or predetermined course, orm circular spots 49 and 50 the web adjacent the which meet at substantially the center of the line 44.. The light from both sources 45 and 46 is reflected by the web through a lens 51 drive thev shaft in one direction while the other motor will drive the shaft in the oppoupon a light responsive means such asa selenium cell or photo-electric cell 52. The two sources of light 45 and 46 may be electricv by five hundred cycle alternating current.

The light responsive means 52 is connected by wlres in circuit with a source of electricity,

as usual, and with a current amplifier and filter 54 of known construction. The light These impulses are transmitted by the wires 53 to the current amplifier and filter 54 where the current is amplified to a suflicient power to actuate the relays 42 and 43, and the currents of different frequencies are separated.

from each other by the filter and conducted to therespective relays by the wires 55 and 56.

In other words, the current carrying impulses corresponding to the sixty cycle light source operates one of the relays, for example, the

relafy 43, while the current corresponding to the ve hundred cycle lamp actuates the other relay, that is, the relay 42.

In operation when the web is moving in its normal or predetermined course the amounts of sixty cycle and five hundred cycle light rays reflected .by the web to the light responsive cell 52 are such that the system is balanced and neither relay 42 or 43 is energized. Accordingly neither clutch 23 nor 230 isenergized, so that the shaft 22 is stationary. When the webmoves in either direction the line 44 is moved with respect to the two spots 49 and 50 of light so that less rays of one light frequency and more rays of the other light frequency are reflected to the.

light responsive cell 52. Thereupon the bal ance of the system is disturbed, and one or the other of the relays 42 or 43 is energized v to close the corresponding'switch or 41.

The respective clutch 23 or 230 is thus energized so as to magnetically connect the shaft 22 to the corresponding electric motor 24 or 25. Thereby the shaft 22 is rotated in one direction to revolve the bearing block 19 and raise or lower the lateral registering roller 9. The apparatus is so adjusted that 'the lateral registering roller is operated to cause movement of the web in the 'direction opposite to the movement which initiated the "operation; in other words,- if the web for some cause moves in one direction out of its normal or predetermined course, the apparatus automatically operates to move the web in the opposite direction back to its normal or predetermined course. It will be observed that the line 44, being printed by the first cyl-,

inder is in a certain relation to-the impression, ensures the same relation being maintained on subsequent impressions by cooperation of the line with the light sensitive cell andthe related apparatus. I

A modification of the invention'is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, where instead.

of forming a line on the we one edge of the web partially overlies a black or non-reflecting surface 57 on a member fixed to the frame of the machine. In normal operation of the apparatus part of each spot of light 58 and 59 is located on'the black surface 57 while the'other part is located on the web. Obviously movement of the web will vary the light reflection to the light responsive cell in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described.

According to another form of the invention two light sources 60 and 61 of the same "67 and 68 to form spots 69 and 70 spaced longitudinally of the web and each overlying the black line 44 for about half the width of the latter as shown in Figure 5. In other words, when the web is running in its normal or predetermined course, one half of each light spot 69 and 70 is located on the black line 44, while the other half is located on the reflecting surface of the web at the side of the line opposite the other spot.

The switches.66 control the respective magnetic clutches 23 and 230 just as do the switches 4 'and 41.

In operation of this form of the invention, when the web is running in its normal course, both of the relays are deenergized. Upon lateral movement of the web in ether direction, more light is'refiected from one source and less light is reflected from the other source to the respective light sensitive cells 62 and 63. Accordingly one of the relays 65 is energized so as to close its corresponding switch and thereby energize the respective clutch 23 or 230. The lateral neg'stering roller is then adjusted in the manner hereinbefore described.

Preferably automatic apparatus embodying my invention is utilized in connection lithographic machines, web-fed type presses and web-fed half-tone presses. Also while the invention has been shown as embodied in certain details of construction, it will be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and that many modifications and changes may be made in the details of the apprinting machines, such as planographic of paratus without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention,-what Iclaimis:

"1. In a web-fed printing machine, the combination of a web supply, means for printing upon said web, means for conveying the web to said printing means, mechanism 1nclud ing light responsive means for causing lateral printing upon said'web, means for conveying the web to said printing means, mechanism including light responsive means for causing lateral movement of said web upon said conveying means, and a source of light arranged with respect to said light responsive means and said web so that said web refiects light from said source upon said light responsive means and such light reflection varies in accordance with lateral movement of said web upon said conveying means.

3. In a webfed printing machine, the combination of a web supply, means for printing upon said web, means ior conveying the web to said printing means, means for causing lateral movement of said web upon said conveying means in both directions, light responsive means for controlling the last-mentioned means so as to cause movement of the web in one direction or the other according to vari-' ations in light rays directed upon said light responsive means, and a source of light arranged with respect to said light responsive means and said web so that lateral movement of said web varies the transmission of light to said light responsive means.

4. In a web-fed printing machine, the combination of a web supply, means for printing upon said web, means for conveying the web to said printing means, means for causing lateral movement of said web upon said conveying means in both directions, light responsive means for controlling the last-mentioned means so as' to cause movement of. the web in one direction or the other according to variations in light rays directed upon said light responsive means, and a souiice of light arranged with respect to said light responsive means and said'web so that said web reflects light from said source upon said light responsive means and such light reflection varies in accordance with lateral movement of said web. 7

5. In a web-fed printing machine, the combination of a Web having difi'erent portions ofits surface respectively light absorbing and light reflecting, means for printing upon the web,.means for conveying the web to said printing means, mechanism including two light responsive means for causing lateral movement of said web in opposite direc: tions, and two sources of light arranged with respect to said light responsive means and said web so that upon lateral movement of'said web in either direction said reflect-. ing surface and light absorbing surface of said web increase the reflection of light to one of said light responsive means and decreases the light reflected to the other responsive means so as to cause lateral movement of the web in one direction or the other.

6. In a web-fed printing machine, the combination of a web having different portions of its surface respectively light absorbing and light reflecting, means for printing upon the web, means for conveying the web to said printing means, mechanism including light responsive means for causing lateral movement of said web according to variations in light rays directed upon said light responsive means,'and a source of light arranged with respectto said light responsive means and said web so that lateral movement of said web causes movement of said reflecting and non-reflecting surfaces to vary the transmis sion of light to said light responsive means.

7. In a web-fed printing machine, the combination of a web supply, means for printing upon said web, means for conveying the web to said printing means, light responsive means, two electric lamps operated by alternating current of different cycles arranged with respect to the light responsive means and said web so that lateral movement of said web varies the transmission of light from both said lamps to said responsive means, and means controlled by said light responsive means for causing lateral movement of said web in either direction accordingly as said responsive means responds to light from one or the other of said lamps.

8. In a web-fed printing machine, the com bination of a web supply, means for printing upon said web, means for conveying the web to said printing means; means for adjusting said conveying means in opposite directions to cause lateral movement of said web, means for driving the last-mentioned means including two prime movers moving in opposite directions and a magnetic clutch between each of said prime movers and said last-mentioned means, light responsive means for controlling said magnetic clutches according to variations in light transmitted to said light responsive means, and light transmitting means arranged with respect to said light responsive means and said web so that lateral movement of said web varies the transmission of light to said light responsive aneans. I

9. In a web-fed printing machine, the combination of a web supply, means for printmg upon said web, means for conveying the web to said printing means; means for ad-' justlng said conveying means in opposite directions to cause lateral movement of said web, means for driving -.the last-mentioned means including two prime movers moving in opposite directions and a magnetic clutch between each of said prime movers and said last-mentioned means, an electric circuit including a relay switch for controlling each of said magnetic clutches, a photo-electric cell, two electric lamps operated by alternating current of difierent cycles arranged with respect to said light responsive means and said web so that lateral movement of said web varies the transmission of light from both said lamps to said light responsive means, and an electric circuit including an amplifier and a filter and said photo electric cell and said relay switches so that each of said relays is actuated in accordance with the influence of the light from one of said lamps upon said photo electric cell.

10. Automatic mechanism for securing and maintaining lateral register of superimposed impressions upon the web ofa-web-fed printing machine, comprising a source of light, light responsive means, means for varying the transmission of light rays to said light responsive means upon lateral movement of the web in either direction, and means influenced by said light responsive means for causing lateral movement of the web the opposite direction in accordance with variations in such light transmission.

EDMUND B. OSBORNE. 

